Need for Utilization of Water Resources in Western Rajasthan

Will the Rajasthan and Indian governments take concrete steps in their upcoming budgets to address the long-term water shortage in the state by tapping into the vast water resources found in western Rajasthan? This question is on the minds of the state's residents, who are closely watching the central and state government's budget proposals. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is consulting with various sections of society for their suggestions and has devised a roadmap to tackle the water crisis in the state.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, recently announced at an event in Jaipur that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, Rajasthan will soon become one of the most water-rich states. He mentioned that the state has received a major boost with the revised PKC link project (Integrated ERCIP), in which the central government will contribute 90% of the financial support, leaving only 10% to be borne by the state government. This project will resolve the water issues of the Shekhawati region permanently.

C.R. Patil further emphasized that the solution to Rajasthan's water crisis lies in rainwater harvesting and the construction of recharge structures. Chief Minister Sharma has taken commendable steps to involve NRI Rajasthanis and Bhamashah donors in this initiative, giving it a much-needed momentum.

Due to the shortage of both groundwater and surface water, many parts of Rajasthan face water scarcity, especially during summer, when special trains and tankers are needed to supply drinking water. Given this, it is essential for both the central and state governments to take effective steps to utilize and preserve water resources, particularly in western Rajasthan, where large water and gas reserves have recently been discovered.

This is the time for the government to take decisive action and utilize these natural resources to provide a permanent solution to the water crisis in the state.